Loose Clapton

[BKTOAD]

My clapton wire always comes out loose on the core. IDK if I am being too anal or if there is a solution. Looks tight while I am spinning it, but after it is done, I could slip it totally off the core (if I wanted to.)

I have made a twisted core with counter twisted clapton wrapping and that stays put, rock solid, but single core claptons seem to elude me. I just make do by putting a kink in the ends of the wire until it gets held together on the posts.

Any suggestions? 26 core and 32 or 38 outer if that matters.

 

[robot zombie]

I have made a twisted core with counter twisted clapton wrapping and that stays put, rock solid, but single core claptons seem to elude me. I just make do by putting a kink in the ends of the wire until it gets held together on the posts.

That's how I've always done it. I kink the far end real tight with needle-nose pliers before taking it out of the chuck and kinking the other end. After that, I clip off the mess of wire that was in the chuck. Never had a problem with it getting loose on me. *shrugs* The outer lead can't go anywhere. You can tell its secure by how firm it is when you get to wrapping the coil. I notice it locks-in once the coil is wrapped, too. You can clip the kinked ends off before mounting and it stays put.

I do remember having bigger problems with it in the past. I think the wire has to be real secure on the section of wire that goes into the chuck. That way, if your wraps are as consistent and as close together as can be, there's no room for play. Another thing that seems to help is to bend the far end at about a 45 degree angle. If you can keep the outer wire tight around that end, it'll stay tight as you kink it. And rather than cutting the outer wire at the end, just pinch it and crank the drill. This way, the ends sorta fuse together. I've noticed it can unravel when you cut, which I can only imagine makes the outer wire's interior diameter expand ever so slightly, a it reels back just a smidge.

I find it also really helps to do shorter stretches of wire... ...like 6-8 inches at most.

It's probably worth mentioning that I do my claptons using the classic freehand technique. If you're using swivels, that might be why you're having trouble getting it consistently tight enough to grip the core. That's part of why I freehand. When you're pinching it around the core, the outer wire is forced to conform without a need for tension to make it hold its shape. Tension makes it tight, but leads to spring-back when you let off.

 

[nabibrian]

I too use the classic freehand technique, I find that I have more control of how much tension I can apply and when it gets loose I can feel it and can make immediate adjustments on the fly.

I use my thumbnail to stay close to the edge of the wire wrapping and so far it seems to work perfect, that is right up until I hit the end and stop the drill. I have to remember that because it hurts like a son of a gun when the wire hits under the nail lol

 

[nabibrian]

I have made a twisted core with counter twisted clapton wrapping and that stays put, rock solid

This gives me an idea, thanks for sharing.
Oh, by the way... Welcome to the VU, great to have you here with us

 

[robot zombie]

I too use the classic freehand technique, I find that I have more control of how much tension I can apply and when it gets loose I can feel it and can make immediate adjustments on the fly.

I use my thumbnail to stay close to the edge of the wire wrapping and so far it seems to work perfect, that is right up until I hit the end and stop the drill. I have to remember that because it hurts like a son of a gun when the wire hits under the nail lol

Ahh, see I actually don't leave any distance between my thumb and the wires. It's easy to accomplish when you take spool out of the equation. I tie the outer wire to a doorknob, walk it back 20' and put very gentle, but constant tension on it till it gives a little - just enough so it falls slack when I let go. From there, I just let it rest on the floor while I work.

I pinch right between the tips of my finger and thumb. I seat it more under the wire than over. Index finger nail perpendicular to the core and thumbnail just about parallel. The wire never hooks under the thumbnail that way and it's just all-around easier, imo. It feels very bizarre. It's almost like your hand is automatically running along the bare core... ...feels far smother than you'd reckon it should. Like smoother than the bare wire itself. And then at the end, it's like shoop! Breaks-off and locks the outer to the core like magic.

You don't have to adjust anything - it's all automatic. The drill does all of the work for you. Just grab the fucker and go. With no tension on the outer wire, it doesn't tend to get wild on you so you don't really need to control or direct it once it falls into the groove. Your fingers just act like stoppers that keep it in that continuous groove - they just have to make it so the outer wire has nowhere else to go.

It's actually really easy to do once you figure out the angle and grip. Once it gets started, all you have to focus on is keeping that grip. You can make perfect claptons without looking. You can actually move your hands up, down, left, right, and back while you do it. Just don't tug it. The wire doesn't care as long as you keep the tension off.

Calluses are a real necessity for this - just to be able to keep the wire from slipping past your skin. It just won't work if you have bitch hands.

I know my technique is weird. I've never see anybody do it that way. It seems to work pretty well, though.

 

[nabibrian]

I pinch right between the tips of my finger and thumb. I seat it more under the wire than over. Index finger nail perpendicular to the core and thumbnail just about parallel. The wire never hooks under the thumbnail that way and it's just all-around easier, imo. It feels very bizarre. It's almost like your hand is automatically running along the bare core... ...feels far smother than you'd reckon it should. Like smoother than the bare wire itself. And then at the end, it's like shoop! Breaks-off and locks the outer to the core like magic.

Sounds great @robot zombie
If possible, can you post a picture of this?

 

[robot zombie]

Maybe tomorrow. I'm about off to bed now. That would help though, wouldn't it? lol

I really want to take video of it just to demonstrate, but thus far I haven't found a way to show what needs to be seen. Pictures may actually be better.

 

[BKTOAD]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I just realized it might help to post my current method.

I try to do 2 feet or so at a time. Have done it with and without swivels, but I don't like the wire slapping around wildly. I wrap the outer around the core at the chuck end, put a 90 bend, and put that in the chuck. I use the empty ballpoint pen thing and put as much tension on the back end of the pen as possible without breaking. (The rear plug of the pen) Quite a bit more tension for 32G than 38G obviously, but with similar results. I secure the spool to where it can spin, run the drill til it pulls the pen tight, and let the drill run and do its thing. I don't even hold the pen, just go at a medium speed and make sure it is tight to the core periodically, which it always has been. I have been cutting the wrap and or the core at the swivel end.

I wonder if I tried to hold the far end and twist the drill til it breaks (per Robot Zombie) if that would keep it in place. Seems in theory that twisting the single core would shorten it slightly, therefore making it wider, slightly thicker gauge in the core.

Update: tried the "twist it til it breaks" method and it is TIGHT! Worked very well. Thanks again.

 

[nabibrian]

Sounds like you are on to it BKTOAD.
I await RobotZombie's pictures or video but what I know for sure, simple is easiest!

 

[VAPESWAPSHOP]

found this in a forum on ELR and it has been a godsend since!!!! NO UNSPOOLING NECESSARY!! This is two ends of pipette tips cut off and stuck inside each other, wire is fed in between the two. I used a piece of wire to feed through the wire spool and into the pipettes, but a coat hanger works too. I tried the pen and it didnt keep enough tension for me either. This Makes my claptons so much easier, hope it helps......Also I have noticed some wires being more springy and harder to clapton too(they might have not been annealed im not sure) but could be 38 ga is too skinny too IDK.....

 

[robot zombie]

View attachment 43682
found this in a forum on ELR and it has been a godsend since!!!! NO UNSPOOLING NECESSARY!! This is two ends of pipette tips cut off and stuck inside each other, wire is fed in between the two. I used a piece of wire to feed through the wire spool and into the pipettes, but a coat hanger works too. I tried the pen and it didnt keep enough tension for me either. This Makes my claptons so much easier, hope it helps......Also I have noticed some wires being more springy and harder to clapton too(they might have not been annealed im not sure) but could be 38 ga is too skinny too IDK.....

That's pretty nifty. I might give that a shot if I feel like tinkering a bit more next time I clapton.

@nabibrian I haven't forgotten you. I will take some pics when I get the chance. I promise you it's nothing special, though! Though simpler, it actually takes a bit more skill to do. I just think it works better once you have it down. It's hard mode.